The announcement of a $4.7-billion Via Rail contract for the Thunder Bay Alstom plant will put the city in the spotlight as the place to invest in manufacturing and other industries.
“Honestly, it feels like Christmas,” Charla Robinson, president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, said. “This is something that we’ve been working on for a long time; working closely with Alstom, with the unions and with the entire business community.”
Robinson called Thursday a “transformational and a historic day” for Via Rail and for Thunder Bay to have the opportunity to be part of the building of Via Rail cars for the future.
“To see this investment in Thunder Bay to ensure that rail cars are built in Canada, it’s like Christmas morning,” she said.
“It’s a really huge opportunity not only for the Alstom plant and the Alstom workers, but also that huge supply chain throughout our community that supports the work that’s done here.”
Robinson says when this kind of an investment happens, there are offshoots and opportunities.
“Now that we have that type of expertise, it really does build momentum for new opportunities, she said. “A lot is happening in the mining sector, so what else can we now bring to Thunder Bay because we have these two foundational industries that are really growing and building our economy.”
Rick Dumas, president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) and mayor of Marathon, said this announcement represents an important advocacy success for Thunder Bay and the Northwest.
NOMA has worked with the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC), the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce and other community, industry and labour stakeholders to advance this decision.
Dumas said the economic impact of continued work at the Thunder Bay Alstom facility extends well beyond the plant itself.
“Maintaining rail manufacturing in Northwestern Ontario is about much more than one facility,” Dumas said. “These investments support skilled trades, families, local businesses and suppliers throughout the region while strengthening Canada’s domestic manufacturing and transportation supply chains.”
He said rail manufacturing supports an extensive supply chain involving parts and components, transportation, engineering, skilled trades, professional services and small- and medium-sized businesses throughout Thunder Bay, Northwestern Ontario, and Canada.
Maintaining and growing Canada’s domestic manufacturing capacity is increasingly important, Dumas said, especially during a time of changing global trade relationships and increasing economic uncertainty.
“This announcement demonstrates what can be achieved when Northwestern Ontario works together with a clear and united voice,” he said.
